16 - Buy Food From An Indigenous Food Truck; Eat from an Indigenous Owned Restaurant
This series of blog posts is inspired by the list 21 Things You Can Do to Change the World created by Bob Joseph in his book 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act. Focusing on actionable steps, these blog posts will take each step and provide links, contacts, and suggestion lists.
Scroll through our recent 21 Things posts here.
The next action we are highlighting is Buy food from an Indigenous food truck; eat in an Indigenous owned restaurant
Food brings people together at any time. This summer and through out the year, take the opportunity to enjoy food made by First Nations chefs and indigenous community initiatives locally and when you travel.
Here are some links to start your exploration! Vancouver: https://www.indigenousbc.com/things-to-do/restaurants-eateries Canada: https://indigenouscuisine.ca/ (interactive map) Ontario: https://ontarioculinary.com/where-to-eat-indigenous-food-in-ontario/
Links to local indigenous restaurants, food trucks and other food providers:
Mr. Bannock (West Vancouver, Local) ----Vancouver’s first Indigenous food truck that featured on ancient cooking methods such as smoking clay and stone baking.
For more information, please visit https://www.mrbannock.com/Jack Sam's Restaurant & Lounge (Chase, BC) ----With an emphasis on locally inspired culinary traditions. The Chief and Council of the Little Shuswap Lake Band welcome you to the territory known as Skwlax.
For more information, please visit https://quaaoutlodge.com/dining/Salmon N' Bannock (Vancouver, Local) ---- Vancouver's only First Nations restaurant specializing in wild fish. Salmon n' Bannock uses traditional ingredients prepared and presented in a modern way. For more information, please visit https://www.salmonandbannock.net/
Nemiah Valley Lodge (Nemiah Valley, BC) ---- it offers all-inclusive stays include hiking, kayaking, and daily cultural programs like beading, baby-basket making demonstrations, traditional laws, and other cultural practices. For more information, please visit https://www.nemiahvalleylodge.com/
Kekuli Cafes (Four locations: Merritt, Westbank, Kelowna, and Kamloops, BC) ---- a locally owned Aboriginal Cuisine Cafe Coffee shop! Serving everything on Bannock, with Bannock. For more information, please visit https://www.kekulicafe.com/
Indigenous World Winery (Kelowna, BC) ---- combines modern culture with Indigenous history, and the unique terroir of the valley and the Indigenous peoples’ stewardship of these lands. For more information, please visit https://www.indigenousworldwinery.com
The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry (Osoyoos, BC) ---- the name of the restaurant was inspired by the Syilx stories about Four Food Chiefs: Skimxist Black Bear (chief of animals, representing self-sacrifice, leadership, giving), Ntytikxw Chinook Salmon (water creatures, perseverance, hard work), Speetlum Bitterroot (plants below the round, relationships to the land) and Seeya Saskatoon Berry (plants above the ground, growth, strength, community). For more information, please visit https://www.bearfishrootberry.com/
These blog posts are designed to be a starting point to help people throughout our community of Coquitlam toward the path of reconciliation and allyship. We encourage everyone to do their own reading and research. Want to learn more? Check out the Indigenous Relations Academy, which has books, training, and resources. You can also purchase 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act here.